Patient Services - Botox
Botulinum neurotoxin (Botox) therapy offers a breakthrough in treatment of multiple musculoskeletal (skin and bone) and neurological (nervous system) conditions.

Botox is derived from a bacteria-produced toxin that is purified and diluted to the point of being extremely safe. Thus, it is a versatile medication that has been used safely for years in the treatment of neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy, blephrospasm and cervical dystonia. Over the last 10 years the understanding of the mechanisms of pain has greatly advanced and with it, the increased usage of Botox.

BSSI’s own Dr. Leonard Kaplan, who administers Botox injections at our College Parkway and Lockport locations, has received extensive residency training in the use of Botox for neurological disorders, making him an expert in the field.  Additionally, BSSI physicians Deborah Bergfeld and Corine Kaufman have completed intensive training in the administering of Botox and offer treatments at our Orchard Park location.  Our wide-ranging Botox treatment services qualify BSSI as one of the few medical practices in all of Western New York to utilize the advanced medication.

One of the reasons that BSSI physicians are so effective in administering Botox is their extensive knowledge of muscle anatomy and function.  This knowledge, coupled with the use of advanced electrodiagnostic tools, allows BSSI physicians to precisely place the medicine in the specific target muscles. Treatments are then followed with state-of-the-art physical therapy to retrain and reverse muscle imbalances that frequently lead to various painful musculoskeletal disorders. These disorders include:

Chronic migraine and daily headaches:
Evidence for Botox efficacy is growing daily. A recent, controlled study of 250 patients showed a 50% reduction in symptoms in the group that received the medication. Even more encouraging---patient experience at Buffalo Spine and Sports shows an even greater percentage of improvement.

NOTE: The benefits of Botox have been shown to increase after three sequential applications, each three months apart. To be considered for this procedure, candidates need to have tried standard oral migraine prophylaxis medications first.

Chronic neck and low back pain:
Chronic muscle pain after trauma such as work-related injuries and motor vehicle accidents, or in association with cervical and lumbar fusions, has been shown to benefit from intramuscular injection of Botox.  Patients are considered for this procedure only after an extensive trial of physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Piriformis Syndrome:
This is either a stand-alone painful condition of an overactive buttock muscle or is found in conjunction with a lumbar disc herniation and resulting lumbar nerve root irritation.
Several studies have shown a significant benefit of Botox injection into the piriformis muscle. Patient experience has also been extremely favorable.

Cerebral Palsy with spastic hemi or monoplegia:
Botox has again been proven to be very effective in improving ambulation, hygiene, and fine motors skills of cerebral palsy patients.

In cases of spastic limb hemi or monoplegia associated with spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury or stroke, Botox has proven effective in improving ambulation, hygiene, and fine motors skills.

Pelvic floor pain and dysfunction:
This is an exciting new area of medical treatment where the use of Botox has shown significant promise. BSSI pelvic pain specialist Dr. Deborah Bergfeld uses advanced diagnostic tools to identify the dysfunctional pelvic muscles and then localizes them by using electrodiagnostic guidance. Botox is then injected to decrease muscle activity, which allows for the training and activation of the vital pelvic muscles that have become dormant.

Temporomandibular and orofacial disorders/dystonias:
Botox has been found to be effective in relaxing key overactive orofacial (facial) muscles. As a result, patients can better tolerate orofacial physical therapy and utilization of therapeutic prosthetic devices. Treatment for these conditions is frequently undertaken with a team approach, including an orthodontist who specializes in temporomandibular disorders.